The Fig, a Guardian of Biodiversity and An Ecological Secret

Disclaimer: this is an automated translation from Italian. Go to the original article.

The common fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is a deciduous plant of the Moraceae family, which can grow either as a small tree or as a shrub, reaching heights of between 3 and 10 metres. Among its most recognisable features is the smooth light grey bark, contrasting with its broad lobed leaves. The origins of this plant are very old, as suggested by its name 'carica', which refers to Caria, a region in Asia Minor. Already present in the earliest agricultural civilisations of Palestine and Egypt, the fig spread rapidly throughout the Mediterranean basin, becoming a staple of traditional agriculture in these areas since antiquity. The fig was so important that it was considered by many Mediterranean cultures, such as the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, as a symbol of life and prosperity.

The fig is a highly adaptable plant, able to thrive in temperate and subtropical environments. Of a xerophilous and heliophilous nature, this species is well adapted to hot and dry climates, preferring well-drained and sunny soils, but also tolerating long periods of drought and less fertile soils. Its longevity is remarkable: it can easily become centuries old. It grows wild in regions characterised by mild winters and rainy springs, such as along the Mediterranean coast and some areas of western Asia. Today, thanks to its hardiness and adaptability, the fig is cultivated in various parts of the world, from Mediterranean regions to South America and California, where it finds ideal conditions for its development.

Recognising a fig tree is easy thanks to its broad leaves and characteristic fruits. The large leaves measure between 12 and 25 cm in both length and width and are palm-shaped, hand-like, with 3-5 deep lobes and serrated or wavy margins. The upper part is dark green and rough to the touch, while the lower part is lighter and slightly hairy. When rubbed, they give off an unmistakable herbaceous smell. The fruits of the fig, which are technically infructescences called syconia, can vary from green to purple. When ripe, they become soft and sweet, and a white sap often leaks from the skin, which can slightly irritate the skin. The combination of these characteristics, from the particular appearance of the leaves to the texture of its infructescences, makes the fig tree unmistakable.

Besides its ecological value, the fig is known for its medicinal properties. Fig fruits are rich in dietary fibre, vitamins (especially vitamin C and B vitamins) and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. These characteristics make it useful for aiding digestion, regulating blood pressure and improving heart health. Fig sap, although irritating to the skin, has in fact been used in traditional medicine to treat warts and other skin problems.

Figs, contrary to popular belief, are not a true fruit but an infruit, i.e. a collection of fruits. Fig trees, which are distinguished into males and females, do not produce visible flowers like those of other fruit plants: their flowers bloom internally, inside a closed structure called a syconium. Each flower within the syconium generates a small fruit with a single seed, called achene, and what we call a fig is actually made up of a multitude of these small fruits. In other words, eating a fig means consuming hundreds of tiny fruits enclosed in a single fleshy structure.

The pollination of the common fig, Ficus carica L., is based on a fascinating example of obligate mutualism with the wasp Blastophaga psenes. The female of this pollinator needs the protected environment of the male fig syconium to lay her eggs. However, once inside it, she loses her wings and dies, only managing to complete laying. The life cycle continues thanks to the larvae: the males, which display sexual dysmorphism with the absence of wings and strong jaws, emerge from their own eggs and also open those of their sisters, with whom they mate. Thanks to the tunnels dug by the males, the females, fertile and loaded with pollen, leave the fruit. These, looking for new figs, may mistakenly enter the female ones, where they find no space to lay their eggs and die inside. Their sacrifice and these circumstances allow the continuation of this incredible example of coevolution for a good 34 million years.

If you want to find out more about the secrets that nature hides around us, download Biodiverse: the free game app for monitoring biodiversity that allows you to 'collect' and easily identify the plants you come across during an outdoor walk. An ambitious citizen science project aims to create a cooperative archive dedicated to flora in Europe, involving player users with challenges to catalogue species, some of which are rare or endangered. From 9 September 2024, moreover, the 'Biodiverse Heroes' competition will start: each new and different plant photographed and captured allows you to earn a point and climb the leaderboard, to try and win fantastic prizes. The aim is to reward the most 'biodiverse' nature explorers. The app is available for iOS and Android.